Using Literature Circles Booklets (+Freebie!)

I've read about them, talked with teachers who love doing them (older kids though), but I haven't taken the leap to TRY them.  I've been reading The Book Whisperer, and I love so much of what she has to say.  I love the joy she gets from reading.  I was certainly the Reluctant Reader as a kid.  I was a good reader, great vocabulary, but I never FINISHED books.  Encyclopedia Brown was my best friend.  I could read half of the book and return in on "library day" feeling satisfied that I had read most of it with no urge to finish.  How SAD is that!  I truly did not enjoy reading until college.  Summers were spent at the used book store buying all of the Flowers in the Attic series and devouring them.  Not literature, for sure, but I enjoyed the escape and the freedom to read what I wanted for a change!

Since beginning the Book Whisperer, I grew to appreciate the talks that I often have with my kids when they read a book or are trying to find a book.  What was missing was the dialogue they could have with each other.  Back to that voice in the back of my head that wanted to try Lit Circles with my kids.  I have an amazing group of readers this year.  We are focusing school-wide to broaden our genre reading which has really lent itself to the talks I've had with my kids.

I knew before we tried Lit Circles, I had to choose a read-aloud that was more than funny or entertaining.  I went with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Toulane.  Wow.....
What a great read!  I sat at my desk reading aloud with tears coming down my face, my voice quivering, and a silent classroom hanging on every word.  We had wonderful class talks about Edward.  Great book to see a character change.  I highly recommend and will read this book much earlier in the year next year!

After these book talks, I am ready to cut them loose to talk with each other.  I don't know how this will go.  I'm making it up as I go along.  We'll learn this together, but I have to try it out before I can improve it!  Promise to keep you posted on our progress...hopefully!

I teetered back and forth on how I wanted them to document their roles and decided on personal logbooks.  That way, they have their own keepsake of their journey.  I'm putting my attempt on TPT as a Freebie.  I'd love for you to try it out and give me your feedback!  I'd love it if you would Pretty Please follow my TPT store in return.  I'd love to share future updates to the packet with you, and let you know when I make other items that might work for you!

Here is the simple way I decided to put these together without the kids pulling out their scissors.

Step One:

Made 12 sets that were collated on the copier

Step Two:

Stapled the upper edge for each booklet

Step Three:

Trimmed the outer sides

Step Four:

Cut the two booklets along the center line

Step Five:

Done!

Bonus:

Added a few extra pages for the Summarizer in case they need more than one page.  I put that page in the back of the booklet....just in case.

And..........Finally!!!

None of these on the floor!  Yeah!

Click on the image below to grab your OWN copy!  Let me know if you LOVE it!